Icy winter streets, and fashionable shoes don't always mix. This winter I bought a fabulous pair of leather boots at Aldo, but as per the norm, what was fashionable was also not practical for walking outdoors (the soles of the boots are completely smooth).

The sales clerk assured me that the Aldo Elrolice "self-adhesive outsole grip patches prolong the soles of your shoes and prevent you from slipping on wet, carpeted and icy surfaces." They are essentially a rough sandpaper sticker that you peel off and adhere to the soles of your shoes to give your shoes a better grip. You are meant to stick them on clean shoes and leave for 24 hours before use. I left them for over the recommend amount of time and all seemed well...until I went outside.

Water, snow and ice do not mix with the adhesive used. Within hours the patches were peeling off at the corners and by the end of the night one patch was completely off my boot.

Interesting idea, not worth the few bucks it costs to buy them. Cheaper and easier to scuff the soles myself to create grip.